Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
John Wilson Creighton (Crighton) was born at Blaydon, County Durham in 1894 to parents John Creighton and Dorothy Creighton (nee Wilson) who was born at Blaydon.
In 1891, his father John Wilson was a boarder at Winlaton, County Durham, age 27, and married his mother, who was considerably younger, later that year.
The 1901 Census records John aged 7, living in his grandfather’s house at 71, Thomas Street, Winlaton, with his mother who was 26. Siblings at this address include William James 9 and Margaret aged 9. John’s father is not shown on the census document.
In 1911, John was living with his mother who, was now 37, and his bother William James at 71, Thomas Terrace, Blaydon, where John and his brother are both working in the coal mines, John as a pony driver and William as a putter. His mother is still shown to be married (20 years) but his father is not included on the census form.
Military records confirm John was born at Blaydon and enlisted at Newcastle-on-Tyne with the service number of 24/541. Other military documents show the following numbers 24/586 and 27/541. His Pension Index Card only shows his mother Dorothy and it’s very unlikely he was married. John Sheen’s book Tyneside Irish includes information that John was in D Company, enlisted on 10/11/14 and lived at 71, Thomas Terrace, Blaydon, County Durham. Additionally, John was involved in raids on 5/6/June 1916 and was still missing in September of the same year.
His brother William James Creighton is shown in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services 1848-1939. First Service Date was 17 June 1916 and last Service date 1 April 1919. His last ship was Victory ll and his service number was K34048. William James Creighton survived the conflict and was still alive in 1939.
John Wilson Creighton is remembered in Blaydon on B111.01 and B111.14 and on our list of Tyneside Irish
